Is slap and pop on a high action bass bad?

Tupac · #1 06-18-2011, 01:32 PM

I'm worried it could hurt the instrument pretty bad. To get a pop on any string but the E string, I have to pull it back kinda far like pulling slingshot. Or is this normal and my bass isn't high action at all? I'm not even sure if it's high action in the first place...

Sorry for the noobishness.

Metaldood19 · #2 06-18-2011, 10:25 PM

Ever had your bass set up? Its extremely cheap and is in my book, a must if you buy a new instrument. High action is generally never good (as far as I'm concerned). Could you possibly take a pic of your fingerboard from the side so we can see the action?

M.Wrenn · #3 06-18-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metaldood19

Ever had your bass set up? Its extremely cheap and is in my book, a must if you buy a new instrument. High action is generally never good (as far as I'm concerned). Could you possibly take a pic of your fingerboard from the side so we can see the action?

+1 to both. If we can see the fretboard then we can tell you what to fix in terms of your basses set up or technique if that's the issue.

Tupac · #4 06-19-2011, 09:47 PM

Sorry for being late, but those pictures are coming. I never got a chance today.

XylemBassGuitar · #5 06-20-2011, 01:09 PM

Slapping (and your slap tone) definitely improves with lower action in my opinion...especially the pop.

I think measuring the space between the 12th fret and each string would be more informative than a picture. Get a ruler with 1/32" divisions and let us know where your action is. Generally speaking, "low" action is about 3/32" at the low E and 1/16" at the G (though many basses can't quite achieve this without fret buzz due to poorly leveled fretboards) From the sound of things, your action is really high.

I'm pretty sure you can't really harm the bass other than the strings in this way. I've known a few players that pop so hard it occasionally pulls the strings out of the saddle slot, but that doesn't cause any long term damage.

+1 on the setup suggestion, it can do wonders for a bass, and your abilities to improve as a bass player.

john grey · #6 06-20-2011, 05:48 PM

No one mentioned strings yet... You would do better also to make sure you have some fairly new clean round wound strings. Because even though you can slap just about anything, a clean set of R/W strings makes it a lot easier..

If your Bass has seriously dead strings, you're going to have to shoot an arrow through that before you get a sound you like. Having a high action increases the distance that the string to build up kinetic impact on the fret and in a sense - it could increase the wear somewhat on that magic last one or two frets.
I have some great slap sound from very low actions. I'm careful to keep the round wound strings fairly clean and new and pay very strict care to the technique.

Try working on your scales with just your thumb till you can ring a very sweet note though the neck; even from the D & G strings. Then work on simple grooves with the same 'ring". Once you get that clean slap, it takes little energy and you can get it from a wonderfully low action The cleaner the technique, the less and less energy it takes to get it. Syncopated rhythms sound muddy unless that "ring" is clear. Multiplies, triplets, etc don't need much room because your thumb is coming free from the string since you are not using "area" (high action) to make your bounce.

BigOldHarry · #7 06-20-2011, 05:51 PM

slap style with a high-action bass would be just plain hard to do.

Make things easy on yourself and set it up lower.

SLaPiNFuNK · #8 06-20-2011, 10:33 PM

As mentioned its just harder to do.

I am pretty hard on my basses and never "damaged" one... bolt on or neck through... I wouldn't worry about that...

Afterall, you are mainly slapping and pulling on the strings, they are going to break first before you damage the bass...

**Pacman** · #9 06-21-2011, 06:20 AM

Marcus Miller's basses are set up pretty high, according to his tech...

allexcosta · #10 06-21-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

Marcus Miller's basses are set up pretty high, according to his tech...

I have played both of Marcus' basses (his 77' jazz and his 5 string Fender) and the action was what I'd call medium-high. He actually plays very hard on those basses and his style wouldn't go well with a low action setup.

There's a video on youtube (at NAMM I believe) where Marcus is playing a Sadowsky with clearly low action and he's buzzing all over...